Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav has slammed UP’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for using ‘fake encounters’ to divert attention from ‘real issues’.
Yadav tweeted shortly after former MP Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad and his aide Ghulam were killed by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday in Jhansi. The duo were wanted in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case and the Uttar Police claimed that they were killed in an encounter.
“By doing false encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today’s and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared,” Yadav tweeted.
“The (government) does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong,” he said in Hindi.
“Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with the UP Special Task Force team,” said Special Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, PTI reported.
“The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited,” he said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised the UP STF, DGP, Special DG law and order, and the entire team behind the killing, UP CMO said in a statement, news agency ANI reported.
“After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team. Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary Home informed the CM about the encounter. A report was placed in front of the CM on this whole matter,” it said.
Earlier today, former MP Atiq Ahmed along with his brother were produced before a court in Prayagraj amid high-security deployment.
